Trekkies and Do-It-Yourself Fish Farming
Finally we come home to the geek. The object of my affection at least.
The true geek likely has the brains of the nerd but not the drive. They may even enjoy breaking the rules or rebelling against authority. Geeks tend to have a small close-knit group of geeky friends. And, as I can personally attest to, geeks are hopeless romantics. Guys hold the majority in this group, but there are an increasing number of female geeks.
A tendency toward obsession definitely characterizes the geeks, and this comes through in a variety of ways. The classic geek is likely to have an obsession with superheroes and sci-fi, and to hold strong allegiances (like Marvel vs. DC or Star Wars vs. Star Trek). Geeks are also obsessed with gadgets and technology, and unlike the dorks they will help you fix your computer. Many collectors also show this kind of obsession, like my good pal who collects not only the common comics and action figures but also video game consoles (and his awesome wife not only lets him keep them, but plays SNES with him). Yet the obsession can appear in less evident ways too. A close friend recently told me about a large empty tank that’s been sitting in her living room for some time, evidence of her husband’s brief obsession with fish farming. He had planned to raise tilapia…in their living room. I sound skeptical here but perhaps this is actually not only quite convenient but quite brilliant. Yet it does betray her husband’s inner geek. That kind of single-minded obsession and focus (with sometimes seemingly odd hobbies) can only be found in one kind of soul.
Geeks have enjoyed much popularity in recent years due to television shows such as The Big Bang Theory and popular interest in the Silicon Valley crowd. With the increasing prevalence of technology in our lives and the recent success of The Avengers, this popularity seems here to stay. As the saying goes, geek is chic…
